It’s the week of Christmas, and we here at Movie Issues HQ are in full swing filled with the holiday spirit. This week we watch some of our favorite holiday cartoons: Mickey’s Christmas Carol, The He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special, and two of our favorite episodes from Futurama and American Dad. Yes, they’re random, but all worth it in their own special way. So please get yourself a cup of nog, sit by the fire and join us as we get all merry and stuff!

Right after the Futurama panel at Comic Con 2010 and before the cast members left the room, a representative from the Guinness Book of World Records showed up with a shiny book and a plaque for the Matt and David. The plaque read:

“The most critically acclaimed animated series currently on Television, Futurama, for it’s 6th season created by Matt Groening and produced by David X. Cohen which debuted on June 24, 2010.”

So, congratulations Futurama and Futurama fans. I can hear Bender now saying to the other animated TV series out there, “Bite my shiny metal ass!”

Futurama is finally back with all the original cast members. Here, at the Comic Con 2010 press panel, we’ve learned that Comedy Central has ordered 26 new episodes. Hurray! The new season so far has had good ratings as well as good reviews.

John DiMaggio shared a story with us about a time when he went into a tattoo parlor one late night and saw a guy getting the face of Bender tattooed on his neck. John got excited and proved that he was the voice of Bender. The fan asked him to sign his neck, next to his tattoo, then that John’s signature tattooed as well.

Matt Groening saw the protestors protesting the Westboro protestors and said he loved the Bender cosplayer that held the sign reading “Kill all humans!” (GJ!) Matt has been coming to Comic Con since 1979 and he was able to see his career grow from the outside in.

Lauren Tom revealed that the inspiration for the voice of Amy Wong’s mother is Lauren’s real life grandmother who usually cursed at her while she was a young kid.

Someone from the press asked besides the main character voices, what are their favorite side character voices they like to do. John DiMaggio said that he loves to play the robot cop, URL.

The writing staff consists of people with Computer Science, Science, and Math PhDs. Lastly, it was revealed that Bender will never become a Globetrotter.
Stay tuned to this post for photos and video from the press conference.

Update: Photos and a short clip of the panel have been uploaded past the break.

As of now, the general public and first time press pass holders like us have not seen the full Comic Con 2010 program. But, thanks to Comedy Central, that didn’t stop them from sending out their schedule.

“Once again Comedy Central will have a presence at the San Diego Comic-Con, the conference of all things great in the world of entertainment. This year Comedy Central will host panels for their new animated show Ugly Americans as well as a panel for the newly returned to TV Futurama. In addition to the panels, Comedy Central will cap things off Saturday night with the free comedy event, Comedy Central Live @ Comic-Con live from the House of Blues which will be hosted by comedian Pete Holmes (Ugly Americans).”

The Star is reporting that Fox and the original voice acting cast of Futurama have finally came to an agreement. This was the news I was hoping for during their panel at Comic Con. But since they couldn’t talk about it there, the whole panel was so lame that I left early.

“We are thrilled to have our incredible cast back. The call has already `gone out to the animators to put the mouths back on the characters,” Futurama creators Groening and David X. Cohen said in a joint statement.